Show I 1 iron aust cause of fire when oxide of iron is placed in contact with timber excluded from the atmosphere mo sphere and aided by a slightly increased temperature the oxide will part with its oxygen and is converted into very finely divided particles of metallic iron having such an affinity for oxygen that when afterward exposed to the action of the atmosphere from any cause odgen is BO rapidly absorbed that these particles become suddenly red hot and if in sufficient quantity will produce a temperature far beyond the ignition point of dry timber wherever iron pipes are employed for the circulation of heated medium whether hot water hot air or steam and the pipes are allowed to become ansty contact with timber it is only necessary to suppose that under these circumstances the particles of metallic iron become exposed to the action of the atmosphere and this may occur from the mere expansion or contraction of the pipes in order to account for many of the fires which periodically take place at the commencement of the winter iron |